Day Trip to Vilnius
Going to Vilnius but only have a day to spend? This is a guide for you to know what to do in Vilnius with such a short span of time.
Vilnius is the second largest city in the Baltic states and it was named as the European Capital of Culture in the year 2009. The name of the city (Vilnius) originates from the Vilnia River and it is the masculine form of the Vilnia River’s name.
About Lithuania
Lithuania is the southernmost and largest country of the three Baltic States and it is also part of the Schengen Area where one can travel freely across borders without any passport.
The currency of Latvia is Euros.
Day 1 – Vilnius
Start your day right by observing the sunrise at the Gediminas Castle Tower Observatory Deck. It is quite easy to climb the Gediminas Hill on foot as the journey only takes around 10-20mins with slight slopes. Otherwise, you could take the lift to the top if you do not wish to climb. The magical hour view are superb and you could see the unobstructed panorama views of Vilnius.
Located near the Gediminas Castle Tower, the Palace of the Grand Duke of Lithuania is the one and only museum that you should visit in Lithuania. The Palace is an awesome museum with several interesting exhibitions that allows you to know the history of Lithuania in rich details within a few hours.
The Vilnius Cathedral is also located near the Gediminas Hill. The cathedral used to host the coronations of Grand Dukes of Lithuania. In addition, there are a lot of art works dating from the 16th through 19th centuries inside the Cathedral. Therefore, it is also a must visit attraction in Lithuania beside Geiminas Castle Tower and Palace of the Grand Duke.
If you have time to spare, it is advisable to visit the St Anne Church which is a prominent landmark in the Old Town of Vilnius. The Gate of Dawn, a city gate in Vilnius and a major site of Catholic pilgrimage in Lithuania, is also worth visiting.
Ending Remarks
One day is definitely not enough to explore and experience Vilnius. The aforementioned attractions can be covered within 1 day but there are certainly more attractions to see/do in Lithuania. Hence, I would advise you to add another day so that you have more time to immerse yourself into Lithuania and fully experience the vibrant city. In addition, you might want to visit Riga and Tallinn to experience the diverse delights of the Baltic States.